Selfless and humble great souls continuously travel for the welfare of humanity, showing compassion toward seekers (mumukshus) and desiring the ultimate liberation of their souls. Paramanand Swami was such a seeker, originally a renunciant (vairagi) from a village near Lucknow. He firmly believed that the attainment of salvation (moksha) is found through visiting holy pilgrimage sites (tirth) and through the service of God-centered souls. Furthermore, having read the story of Kakbhushundi in the Ramayan, he resolved to go wherever saints like Kakbhushundi resided and thus set out on a pilgrimage. While wandering through various holy places, he arrived at the village of Jetpur in Saurashtra, where Ramanand Swami was distributing free food (sadavrat).
Paramanand Swami suffered from an ear ailment that caused a constant, loud roaring sound day and night, making it impossible for him to sleep. On the rare occasions he did find rest, it was only for a brief moment; in this manner, he had not experienced true sleep for twelve years. However, after eating the food from the sadavrat and lying down on a stone veranda, the roaring sound in his ears suddenly ceased. He fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, the pain in his ears vanished, and he felt an immense sense of tranquility. He slept for a long time until Ramanand Swami spoke to him, saying, “Sadhuram! Wake up and perform devotion (bhajan). Why do you remain asleep?”
Ramanand Swami then said, “Sansārīkā ṭukaḍā nava nava āgaḷa danta, bhakti karē tō ugarō nahīṁ tō kāḍhē anta.”
Hearing this, he woke up immediately. He fell at the feet of Ramanand Swami and said, “By your darshan, my disease is cured and I have found peace. Please give me spiritual instruction (sadupdesh).” He requested to be initiated as a saint. Ramanand Swami then gave him initiation and named him Paramanand Swami.
After Ramanand Swami returned to Akshardham, Paramanand Swami recognized Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan as Purna Purushottam Narayan and lived according to His commands. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan appointed him as the Mahant of the Gadhpur temple. The Lord asked Dada Khachar for money and placed a handful of coins into Swami’s hands, blessing him by saying, “Take this, Swami; wealth shall never bind you.” Swami then served as the Mahant of the Gadhpur temple for ten years.
After Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan departed for His divine abode, Swami suffered from a period of mental instability. During this time, he pawned the decorative garments (uttari) of Gopinathji Maharaj to pay the wages of the masons working on the temple. When Gopalanand Swami learned of this, he summoned Punja Seth, the son of Hemraj Shah, to Vadtal and recommended that he manage the administration of Gadhpur. Accepting the command of Gopalanand Swami, Punja Seth looked after the management of the Gadhpur temple for ten years.
Finally, on the night Shravan Vad 6 in Samvat 1909 (1853 C.E.), Paramanand Swami left his body and reached the divine abode of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, attaining eternal happiness.